Former Purdue basketball star JaJuan Johnson a professional traveling man

WEST LAFAYETTE — JaJuan Johnson has traveled the world and played basketball for almost a dozen different teams since he left Purdue seven years ago.

It would come as no surprise, then, that he was glad to be back in familiar territory this weekend.

Former Purdue center JaJuan Johnson glides to the basket during warmups for the Purdue Alumni ...more

Former Purdue center JaJuan Johnson glides to the basket during warmups for the Purdue Alumni basketball game at Mackey Arena.

John Terhune/Journal & Courier,

Johnson, who played for the Boilermakers from 2007-11, enjoyed a well-deserved homecoming — and flashed some serious game — during the Purdue men's basketball program's alumni game Saturday at Mackey Arena.

Led by Johnson's 22 points, the alumni Black team beat alumni Gold 101-91.

"It was a great time," said Johnson, who recently signed with the Russian team Lokomotiv Kuban for the 2018-19 season.

"I was here earlier in the summer, but it was awesome to come back and see so many old friends. I don't get back here too often these days."

Johnson's quest to play professionally began when he was a youth growing up in Indianapolis, and he has chased that basketball dream around the globe.

A two-time first team All-Big Ten selection, Johnson was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in 2011 and promptly got traded to Boston. He played limited minutes with the Celtics that year, got traded to the Houston Rockets and was then released.

That's when Johnson's journey really began.

He played for three different NBA developmental league teams, from Indiana to Idaho, in 2013-14. He then played in Italy, China, Turkey, Russia, Italy again and Turkey again between 2013 and 2018.

Now, Johnson is headed to Russia. Again.

"I'm excited, and it's a great opportunity. I'm just taking it one season at a time," he said. "Things have been going really well so I just feel blessed."

Johnson says he has learned to embrace the constant changes that have come along with his basketball career.

"You welcome it but it's definitely difficult. Just like any other challenge, it's not going to be easy," Johnson said. "I just make the best of each situation and, obviously, the good outweighs the bad. I enjoy playing overseas, with the different cultures and experiences."